1. Organic Matter Accumulation: It all starts with dead plants and tiny marine organisms (like plankton) that settle to the bottom of a lake or ocean.
2. Burial and Sedimentation: Over millions of years, layers of sediment (like sand, silt, and clay) build up on top, burying the organic matter deeper and deeper.
3. Transformation into Kerogen: The weight of the overlying sediment creates immense pressure, and the lack of oxygen prevents decomposition. This transforms the organic matter into a waxy, solid substance called kerogen.
4. Heat and Pressure: As the buried layers get even deeper, they are exposed to increasing heat from Earth's interior. This heat, combined with continued pressure, "cooks" the kerogen.
5. Oil Formation: At temperatures between 150-300 degrees Fahrenheit (65-150 degrees Celsius), the kerogen breaks down into oil and natural gas. The oil migrates upward through porous rock until it's trapped in a geological formation.
6. Trapping: Oil and gas need to be trapped in reservoirs, which are porous rocks like sandstone or limestone that have a cap rock (like shale or salt) preventing the oil from escaping.
Important Note: Not all fossils turn into oil. The process requires specific types of organic matter, temperature ranges, and geological conditions.
Let me know if you want to know more about any specific part of this process!
